Wind power machine



Dec. 3, 1940. H w N 2,224,052

WIND POWER MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 21 fi lT 22 I l 22 2411 20 16 i i .%I7

gwue/vvbo b HERBERT G. IRWIN Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a wind power machine of the type for use in supplying motive power for driving an electric generator, and the primary object of my invention is to provide a wind power machine of simple construction for driving a small electric generator to charge an electric storage battery.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wind power machine for use in the windy sections of the country, and which will drive electric generator of the automotive type in an emcient manner.

A further object-of my invention is to provide in a machine of the character stated, an arrangement of a substantially flat base plate whereby construction and maintenance are simplified.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine of the character stated a support for the bearing of the wind rotor blade and belt rive wheel that is detachable from the base plate for convenience in making adjustment or replacement of the bearings.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the generator support looking at the opposite side from. that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an edge elevational view of the pivot end of the generator mount;

Figure 5 is a perspective view looking at the under side of the back pressure obstruction used with the type of structure shown in Figure 3;

, Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a further modified type of the invention;

Figure 7 is a front elevational View of the structure shown in Figure 6 with certain parts removed; and

Figure 8 is a side elevational view looking at the opposite side to that shown in Figure 6.

By referring particularly to Figures 1 to 5, it will be noted that a conventional V-type belt I4 is disposed on the generator pulley I2 and the belt wheel I3. An electric generator II is attached to a generator mount or platform III which is pivoted at IE to the upper corner of the upright base Il which latter is provided with an inclined upper edge I 8-note Figure 3--upon which a belt back-pressure obstruction comprising a spring-pulled prop I9 slides under the generator mount I0 to lift the generator and thereby cause the pulley I2 to press into the bight of the drive belt I4. The under side of the prop I9 is provided with retainer flanges 20 which fit upon opposite sides of the inclined edge I8 to prevent displacement of the prop as it is pulled along the inclination IB by a pair of spiral pull springs I5 This spring-pulled prop 5 I9 straddles the inclined edge I8, as is shown in Figure 2, and the springs I5 preferably fit upon opposite sides of the spring-pulled prop I9, as is shown in Figure 2, the springs being secured to the prop I9 by engaging the hooks 2I at one end. The opposite ends of the springs I5 are anchored to the generator mount by suitable projecting hooks 22.

The springs I5 may be unhooked from the prop I9 and the prop removed from between the mount I0 and the inclined edge I8 when it is desired to lower the generator for convenient removal or replacement of the belt hi. Upon replacing the belt on the pulley I2 and drive wheel I3 and lifting the generator and mount with the hand or with a suitable pry bar (not shown) the prop I9 may be replaced on the inclination I8 and the springs I5 rehooked in position. The springs I5 are sufiiciently strong to pull the prop I9 up the inclination I8 far enough to lift the mount I0 and generator II to properly tighten the belt I4 and any slight elongation of the belt which may occur in use is compensated for by the constant pull of the springs I5 which slide the prop I 9 further up the inclination I8, in this way pressing the pulley I2 further into the bight of the belt I4. The prop I9 provides a substantial obstruction against back movement of the mount I0 and generator by pulling strains exerted on the generator by the drive belt I4 under various loads and speeds.

As shown in Figure 1, the upright base I"! carries a journal 23 and an inverted socket 23 for receiving the vertical supporting shaft 24. The upright base I! carries a vane arm 24 which is braced by means of a bracing arm 2i and carries a vane 24 for directing the base plate I'I edgewise toward the wind. A suitable wind rotor blade 24 is mounted forwardly of the base I! and the wheel I3, for driving the wheel I3. A governor of the centrifugal fan type-not shown-may be attached to the wind rotor blade for limiting its speed in high winds, as is common with such a structure. 50

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the upright base I1 carries adjacent the lower edge thereof a horizontally disposed bearing support 26 which bearing support carries a spindle projection 26*. This spindle projection 26 receives and sup- 55 ports the hub of the wind rotor blade 24 and the hub of the belt drive wheel I3.

By noting Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, it will be seen that 25 designates a substantially flat base plate carrying a laterally projecting pivot sleeve or journal 26 and an aligned downturned socket 21 for pivotally mounting the base 25 in an upright position on a vertical supporting shaft 28 carried by a suitable tower 29. A horizontally disposed vane arm 30 is attached to the base plate 25, the vane arm 30 being braced by means of the angle brace 3| and supporting a wind vane 32 for directing the base plate 25 edgewise toward the wind-note Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 6, the base plate 25 carries a pair of U-bolts 33 adjacent the lower edge thereof in horizontally disposed position for providing a support for the bearing 34. This bearing 34 is provided with a spindle projection 35, which projection receives the hub of a belt drive wheel 36 and the hub of a wind rotor blade 31, which wind rotor blade 31 revolves forwardly of the front edge of the base plate 25.' A suitable governor of the centrifugal fan type-not shown-may be attached to the wind rotor blade for limiting its speed in high winds as is usual with such a type of structure.

A generator mount 38 is supported for retraction above the upper edge of the base plate 25 and this mount 38 is attached to a pivot bracket 38 which bracket is attached by pivot bolts 39 and 46 to the outer end portions of the arms 4i and 42note Figure 8the arms 4| and 42 projecting laterally from the side portion of the base 25, as shown in Figures '7 and 8. The generator mount 36 supports an electric generator 43, which generator 43 carries a pulley 44 in alignment with the belt drive wheel 36 and receives a drive belt 45. A spiral pull spring 46 for lifting the generator mount 36 which carries the generator and causes the pulley 44 to press into the bight of the belt 45 has one end anchored, as at 41, to the socket 21, and the other end is connected to the arm extension of the prop 48, as at 49, the prop 48 being pivoted, as at 50. The prop 48 is provided with an upwardly inclined arm 5| having a cam-shaped upper end 52 which abuts the under side of the generator mount 3Bnote Figure 6. The pressure of the spring 46 causes the cam 52 to press against the bottom of the mount 38 and produces a function to stabilize the mount 38 and generator against back-movement from pulling pressure of the drive belt while in motion.

A horinzontally disposed brake bar 53 extends transversely across the front edge of the base plate 25, as shown in Figure 7, and this horizontally disposed brake bar 53 is carried by a bell crank lever 54 which is pivoted to the base plate 25 and is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 55 and is engaged by a suitable flexible element 56 by which the brake bar 53 may be brought into contact against the side of the belt drive wheel 36. The flexible element or cable 56 may be operated from any desired point by hand. A spiral spring 51 is connected at one end to the rear face of the brake bar 53 and its opposite end is anchored, as at 54, near the upper end of the base plate 25, and tends to pull the brake bar 53 out of contact with the wheel when the pull element 56 is released.

What I claim is:

1. In a wind power electric generator drive, a base plate adapted to be mounted in'an upright position for flatwise rotating movement on a vertical shaft support, means for attaching a wind vane supporting arm onto said base plate for directing said plate edgewise toward the wind, means for detachably mounting a horizontally disposedbearingsupport onto one side of said base plate adjacent to the lower edge thereof for supporting a wind rotor blade with a belt drive wheel in a position to revolve forwardly of the front edge of said base plate, and means for mounting a belt drive electric generator with its drive pulley in alignment with said belt drive wheel for retraction adjacent to the upper edge of said base plate.

2. In a wind power belt drive for an electric generator, a base plate with a wind vane and a laterally disposed adapter for mounting said plate in an upright position on a vertical shaft support for flatwise rotating movement.

3. In a wind power electric generator drive, a base plate adapted to be mounted for rotating movement on a vertical supporting shaft, a wind vane for rotating said base plate on the supporting shaft, a belt drive wheel carried by said base plate, a wind rotor blade for driving said belt drive wheel, a spring pressed retractile generator mount for supporting a belt drive electric generator in a position to be driven from said belt drive wheel by a belt, and spring actuated means for automatically scotching said generator mount against movement toward said belt drive wheel by belt pulling force.

4. In a wind power electric generator drive, a support adapted to be mounted for rotating movement in a horizontal plane by a wind vane, a belt drive wheel carried by said support, a wind rotor blade for driving said belt drive wheel, a generator mount rockably mounted upon said support for supporting a belt drive generator in a position to be driven from said belt drive wheel by a belt, means for automatically moving said generator mount in a direction away from said belt drive wheel to automatically take up slack of the generator drive belt, and means for automatically obstructing movement of the generator mount in the direction toward said belt drive wheel by belt pulling force.

( HERBERT G. IRWIN. 

